The Cambridge Dictionary has officially declared 'parasocial' as its Word of the Year for 2025, highlighting a phenomenon that has become increasingly prevalent in our digitally connected world.
What Does 'Parasocial' Mean?
The term describes the one-sided, personal connection that individuals feel towards celebrities, fictional characters, or even artificial intelligence, despite having no real-life relationship with them. This feeling of intimacy is often fueled by the direct access to stars provided through social media platforms.
Colin McIntosh, the lexical program manager for Cambridge Dictionary, noted that while the concept has existed for approximately 70 years, it has only recently entered mainstream conversation. 'Millions of people are engaged in parasocial relationships; many more are simply intrigued by their rise,' McIntosh stated in an interview with CBS News.
The Modern Impact of Parasocial Relationships
The dictionary website reported significant spikes in lookups for the term, particularly during high-profile celebrity events. A prime example cited was the engagement announcement between pop superstar Taylor Swift and NFL player Travis Kelce, where fans, known as Swifties, celebrated the news as if they were close friends or family of the couple.
However, experts warn that these relationships can sometimes cross into unhealthy territory. 'We've entered an age where many people form unhealthy and intense parasocial relationships with influencers,' explained Simone Schnall, a professor of experimental social psychology at the University of Cambridge.
Schnall emphasized that these connections create an illusion of mutual understanding and trust, often leading to extreme loyalty, despite the relationship being entirely one-sided.
Broader Cultural Context
The selection of 'parasocial' as Word of the Year reflects broader cultural shifts in how we interact with public figures and content creators. This announcement follows Dictionary.com naming '67' as its 2025 word of the year, though Cambridge Dictionary's choice directly addresses evolving social dynamics in the digital era.
As social media continues to blur the lines between public figures and their audiences, the concept of parasocial relationships provides a valuable framework for understanding modern fandom and the psychological impacts of our increasingly connected digital lives.
